August 04, 2008

Looks aren't everything but.....

Source: David Dale, Sun Herald blogs

Although this column's subject matter is popular culture, that doesn't mean it is shallow. When we declare that today's topic is the best-looking people on television, you will understand that our purpose is deep and serious. Physical appearance matters in the media (except on blogs, mercifully). Jobs can be lost with a single wrinkle and saved with a single act of surgery.

In Hollywood they have a term for what they consider the essential quality in a performer or presenter. A forum in the intellectual magazine Salon discussed this recently: "One of the prime qualities a leading movie star must have is f---ability ... Do you honestly think that it's talent alone that puts them into 'leading' category, as opposed to 'character actor'. Falling in love with the hero or heroine of the movie is often what it's all about. If that doesn't happen for you, then the movie won't work for you."

Apparently f---ability is a combination of good looks and that elusive quality called Presence. Salon suggested that the reason Ellen Page did not win the Best Actress Oscar this year for Juno might have been that she lacked f---ability (despite playing a girl who was pregnant throughout the film, which is only ironic if you take the term too literally).

The term has entered the vocabulary of our own industry. The news director of Channel Nine, John Westacott, is alleged to have told his staff last year: "To make it in this industry, you gotta have f---ability".

This column eschews linguistic crudeness as energetically at it eschews intellectual shallowness, so we are going to use a D word instead of an F word, and try to test the Westacott Theory by developing a "Desirability Index" for Australian television.

Exactly two years ago, with the help of readers, we came up with a shortlist of TV's best-looking people that included Jennifer Hawkins, Erika Heynatz, Deborah Hutton, Evangeline Lilley, Eva Longoria, Juanita Phillips, Naomi Robson, Sandra Sully, Jana Wendt, and Tom Williams. Sadly, some of those people are no longer on television or no longer so attractive.

So we need your advice on an update we are compiling with the help of a panel of persons of all sexual orientations. Consider this a work in progress ...

7 Comments

Exactly two years ago, with the help of readers, we came up with a shortlist of TV's best-looking people that included Jennifer Hawkins, Erika Heynatz, Deborah Hutton, Evangeline Lilley, Eva Longoria, Juanita Phillips, Naomi Robson, Sandra Sully, Jana Wendt, and Tom Williams. Sadly, some of those people are no longer on television or no longer so attractive.

This column eschews linguistic crudeness as energetically at it eschews intellectual shallowness, so we are going to use a D word instead of an F word, and try to test the Westacott Theory by developing a "Desirability Index" for Australian television.

Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, as Buffer, is the main reason I watch Sea Patrol. Is it a coincidence that he received more air time this year and the ratings went up? I think not. He's gorgeous. Hopefully he'll rate higher billing next year, perhaps even make it on an advertising poster instead of some guest star, and the ratings will go up even more. Can't wait!

My favourite actor in Sea Patrol is Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, he's ALL man and a great actor too.
I also like Daniel MacPherson from City Homicide as well, I did'nt watch McLeod's Daughters, but I also liked Matt Passmore, as I saw him originally in "Always Greener" He had an effect on me then, great looks and great actor!
I don't like admitting it, but I like great looking men but they must also have great acting ability too, but being handsome certainly helps in Show Business, it's sad but VERY true.
Thanks for reading this.